matteson



Feb 3, 1931. M TT so 1,730,993

AIR COOLER ANDHUMIDIFIER Filed Dec. 51, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A T TORNEY.

Sheets -Shet 2 R. D. MATTESON AIR COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Dec.

Feb. 3, 1931.

.D. MIR 50w,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.-

Rel 277 Patented Feb. 3,;1931

UNITED STATES RALPH D. MATTESON, 0F BOISE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR 'I'O MATTESONAIR COOLER COM- I PATENT OFFICE IPANY, OF BOISE, IDAHO, A CORPORATIONAIR COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Application filed December 31, 1929. SerialNo. 417,711.

The present invention relates to improvements in air cooling andhumidifying devices and has reference more particularly to certainimprovements over the structures shown in my prior U. S. Patents No.1,727,658 and 1,727,998.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an air coolerand humidifier wherein an improved moisture absorbent unit is employedwhereby the rapidity of the-capillary attraction is increased thusrendering the device more eflicient in contending with extreme heatconditions.

A further and important object is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned character wherein the open-ended casing that is mountedon top of the water pan may be readily and easily assembled ordisassembled for shipping purposes thus making the device compact. p

A further and salient object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a pair of sleeves for disposition transversely be tween theside walls of the open-ended casing at the upper corners thereof, eachsleeve being formed with a horizontally disposedinwardly directed stripthat is notched to form slots which register with similar slots formedin laterally disposed strips that are associated with the ends of theguard flange on the top of the water pan whereby to maintainthe moistureabsorbent units in proper vertically spaced relation.

A still further and important object is to provide an air cooler andhumidifier of the above-mentioned character which will at all times bepositive and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it isdesigned, the same being further simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through my improvedstructure.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line22 of Figure 1 looking downwardly.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on theline 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through one of the moistureabsorbent units.

Figure 5 isa detail perspective view of one of the upper spacingmembers; and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the channeled membersfor the reception of the pair of pads comprising each absorbent unit.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates asubstantially rectangular-shaped water pan having an inturned guardflange 2 at the top which provides an anti-splash guard. Upon referringto Figure 3 of the drawings it will be observed that the inner edges ofthe longitudinal sides of said inturned guard flange are bent downwardlyand thence upwardly to form the troughs 3, the purpose of which will bepresently described. a

The inner opposed end portions. of the guard flange 2 have their freeedges directed downwardly and thence laterally and the laterallydisposed strips 4 are each formed with the spaced notches 5 forming uideslots for the lower portions ofthe absor ent units.

and this particular feature is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of thedrawings.

Forming a salient part of the present invention is the sectionalopen-ended casing denoted generally by the numeral 6 and this casing isadapted to be mounted on the top the water pan 1 and the free ends ofthe arms of these braces are detachably secured to the intermediateportions of the opposed side bolt is the elongated tubular sleeve 10,the

ends of which abut the inner faces of the side walls, it beingunderstood of course that the ends of each bolt are threadedto'accommodate the nuts 11 that engage against the outer faces of theside walls. In addition to aiding in spacing the upper portions of theside walls and rendering the casing structure more rigid, said sleeves.1O perform an additional function and in this respect, one edge portionof each sleeve is directed horizontally and tangentially with respect tothe sleeve. The horizontally disposed portion 12 is formed with a seriesof spaced notches13 as shown in detail in Figure 5 to form guide slotsfor cooperation with the respective guide slots 5 formed in the.laterally disposed strips 4.

Each side wall is formed with the inturned flanges at the upper edges aswell as at the ends thereof and removably fitted across the top of thecasing is the cover 14. The ends of the cover are directed downwardly asshown at 15 for disposition over the upper corner portions of the sidewalls 7 while the longitudinal sideedge portions of the cover are bentinwardly and thence downwardly as indicated at '16 with reference moreparticularly to Figure 3 for cooperation with the inwardly disposedflanges formed onthe upper edges of the side walls of the casing. Thisconstruction provides a means whereby the cover will fit snugly on thetop of the casing yet permit the same to be readily and easily removedfor gaining access to the moisture absorbent units that are arrangedvertically within the casing. The specific construction of thesemoisture absorbent units which constitute an important feature of thepresent invention will now be described in detail.

Each absorbent unit comprises a pair of like pads denoted generally bythe numeral 17, the same being removably fitted in edge to edgeengagement within upper and lower channeled supporting elements shown at18 in Figure 6. The ends of these channeled elements 18 are opened inorder to permit the pads to be readily and easily inserted or removed. sl

Each pad which is of substantially rectangular shape comprises aplurality of pieces of blotting paper denoted by the numeral 19 and thesheets are arranged in superimposed layers and as many of these sheetsof blotting paper may be employed as is desired depending upon theamount of water to be conveyed. These sheets of absorbent material areconfined between fine wire mesh screens 20 which serve as a protectionto the blotting paper and which also tend to confine or limit theexpansion of the blotting paper.

A metal retaining rim 21 extends around the edges of the layers ofblotting-paper and the screens to render each padcompact. The Width ofthe pads 17 remains constant for all sizes of air coolers orhumidifiers. The'vertical dimensions of the pads may vary as the size ofthe air cooler or humidifier increases,

the reason for this being that the expansion of the blottingpaper due tothe action of the Water'can be confined in this smaller'area and willprevent bulging.

In assembling the device, the cover 14 is removed and the moistureabsorbent units are arranged vertically within the casing, said unitsbeing disposed within the respective pairs of registering slots. ornotches 5 and 13 with the lower portions of the units submerged withinthe water 'in'the pan 1. The notched strips serve to maintain themoisture absorbent units in proper spaced relation and form passagesbetween the units-for the passage of air. It is also to be understoodthat an air circulating fan not shown is disposed adjacent one open endof the casing for producing a rapid circulation of air between themoisture absorbent units in the manner as specifically described in myprior United States patents.

As the pads 17 become thoroughly moistened, the air circulating betweenthe spaced units will become evaporated or absorbed and will bedischarged from the discharge end of the easing into the room or placewhere the air cooler is set up.

By employing an improved pad construction, the rapidity of the capillaryattraction will be increased to betterhandle extreme heat conditions.Furthermore by eliminating, the metal center or core from the-pad, theWei ht of the pad will be reduced.

It wi 1 be observed from the foregoing description, that I have providedan improved air cooler or humidifier that will at all times be positiveand eflicient in its operation and due to its construction, the same canbe readily and easily assembled or dis- What I claim as new is:

1. In a cooler andhumidifier of the class desscribed, a water pan havininturned top guard flanges, moisture absoifiient units arrangedvertically and having their lower portions submerged in the pan, meansfor spacing said units apart to provide air (passages therebetween, andan 0 en-ended casing enclosing the moisture a sorbent units detachablymounted in the top guard flanges.

2. In a cooler and humidifier of the class described, a water pan, acasing for disposition on top of the pan, said casing including spacedside walls, and a removable top,

an inwardly directed guard flange at the described, a water pan, acasing for disposide walls of, the casing, and a series of flange sitionon top of the pan, said casing including spaced side walls, and aremovable top, an inwardly directed guard flange at the top of the pan,the side edge portions ofthe flan e being formed with troughs to receivethe o'wer edges of the respective side walls of the casing, bracessecured to the end walls of the guard flange and connected to themoisture absorbent units arranged vertically within the casing, thelower edge portions of said units being submerged in the water pan, andcoacting means within the casingseated within the respective pairs ofnotches.

5. In a cooler and humidlfier of the class described, a water pan, aninwardly directed guard flan e formed at the top of said pan,

the free e ges of the endportions of saidflange being directed)downwardly and thence latera ly the top of the pan, transverselydisposed strips mountedbetween the sides of the openended casing at theupper corners thereof and formed with spaced notches that --registerwith the respective notches in the laterally disposed portions, and aseries of moisture absorbent units removably arranged in the casing andseated within the registering notches to space the units apart, t elower edge portions of the units being submerged in the water pan. Y

6. In a moisture absorbent unit for a cooler, a pad comprising sheets ofabsorbent amaterial arranged in su eriinposed relation,

and wire mesh screens isposed against the outermost sheets ofabsorbentmaterial, and a retaining rim extending around the marginal edges of thesheets and the screens; and upper and lower channeled members forreceiving a plurality of ads, the adjacent edges of the pads beingISPOSdiIiBbllttil'lg engagement.

- In testimony whereof I afiix n iyrsignature.

. RALPH D. MA ESON.

and the part for maintaining the moisture absorbent units in spaced.relation with respect to each other to-provide air passagestherebetween.

sition on top of the pan, said casing including spaced side walls, and aremovable top,

an inwardly directed guard flange at the top an, the sideedge portionsof the ei'ng formed with troughs to reof the ceive the lower edges ofthe respective side walls of the casingi braces secured to the endwallsof the gua flange and connected to moisture absorbent units arrangedvertically within the casing, the lower edge, portions of said units'being submerged in the water pan, and coacting means within the casing4. In a cooler and humidifier of the class described, a water pan, acasing for -dispo-'- "the side walls of the casing, and a series of Iand the pan for maintaining the moisture absorbent units in spacedrelation with re.-

jspec't to each otherto provide air passages transversely vdisposednotched strips, t e side,

therebetween, said means includin edges of the moisture absorbent unitsbeing said laterally disposed portrons being formed with a series ofspaced notches, an open-ended casing arranged on

